4 stars A graphic novel featuring cheerleading and LGBTQIA+ leads? Yes, please! A charming story about reconnecting, speaking out, and trying new things. Loved the emphasis on second chances and growing as individuals. Despite the short length, a lot of issues are packed into this wonderful graphic novel. School pressure, unrequited crushes, fitting in, and…
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3 stars Nice read for those who enjoy realistic fiction graphic novels. This one follows Maggie, who after begging for a pet for years, finds out she is allergic to fur and feathers. Based on the cover, I thought the dog would be more of a focus. I was actually a bit thrown off when…
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4 stars A fantastic read with plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing. This was especially fun to read having grown up in Wisconsin and currently living in Milwaukee. Always nice to see a Wisconsin author. I’ll admit, it took me a little bit to get into the style of this book….
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1 star A disappointing read from a book with such a catchy title and lovely cover. Loved the idea but the execution did not work for me. For me, this book tries to do too much. It is part memoir, part poetry anthology, and part poetry analysis with some facts and quotes from other poets…
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4 stars A heartfelt tale of friendship, community, and a bit of wonder. Red the wishtree has a lot to offer: shade, homes for animals, and a place for wishes. But perhaps their most important contribution is one not directly evident. Through their story, they promote acceptance, understanding, and sympathy. A sweet tale about different…
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3 stars I’ll start by saying I’m not usually a huge fan of realistic, middle-grade graphic novels and did not initially realize this was a memoir. Overall, I thought the story was okay. There is plenty readers can relate to: parental divorce, fighting with siblings, new friendships, school drama, growing need for independence, friends moving…
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5 stars SO. WHOLESOME! I absolutely loved this comics collection. A perfect book to have on hand when you need a pick-me-up or a reason to smile. I’ll admit, I’m slightly obsessed with this series. I started reading it on Webtoon and follow Tarpley on all the social media platforms. Whenever a new comic comes…
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4 stars A gorgeous book to immerse yourself in. Beautiful artwork, a captivating story, and wonderful lessons and messages. Reminiscent of Kay O’Neill‘s The Tea Dragon Society. Gentle fantasy with fantastic artwork. This book is so much more than pretty pictures and Xu accomplishes a lot with a relatively simple story. Sophie’s insecurity is easy to relate…
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3 stars I have loved seeing the recent flood of materials about Ada Lovelace and was excited to find a picture book among them. Hers is a fascinating story. The combination of creativity and original thinking with an interest in math and science makes for some truly remarkable accomplishments. I really enjoy learning more about…
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5 stars Absolutely hilarious! I usually have a poker face when I read but this one had me grinning and, at times, even laughing out loud. Loved Fahmy’s style of humor and the way she pokes fun at various issues to bring them to light (stereotypes, misconceptions, ignorance, lack of representation, microaggressions, racism, etc.). There’s…
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